Watch case and mounting therefor



April ,1955 A. M. FITZPATRICK, JR 2,706,379

WATCH CASE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Feb. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l W 76 INVENTOR. ARTHUR M.FI,TZPATR|CK,JR.

ATTORNEY April 19, 1955 A. M. FITZPATRICK, JR

WATCH CASE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1951 FIGJO FIG.9

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR M. FITZPATRICH JR. BY W ATTORNEY WATCH CASE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Arthur M. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Stamford, Conn. Application February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,356

2 Claims. (Cl. 58-88) My invention relates to watches and more particularly to a watch case and mounting construction which permits the interchangeability of one watch case and its associated movement in a plurality of mountings.

It is an object of my invention to provide a single watch movement mounted in a watch case which is adapted to be rapidly and interchangeably received in a plurality of decorative mountings, so that the outward appearance of the watch is changed each time the watch case is secured in a different mounting.

Another object is the provision of means on a watch case which permits the rapid insertion and removal of the watch case from any of a plurality of mountings by manual manipulation and without the use of tools.

A further object is to provide a watch that can be rapidly changed from wrist to pocket or lapel for men; from wrist to purse, compact or lapel for women; to match color, and for business, evening or sports wear.

A further object is to provide a resilient latching means on a watch case to compensate for slight variances in the production of mounting openings, thus assuring a secure fit of the watch case in a plurality of mountings.

Another object is to provide an economical Watch that presents the appearance of several watches although it actually contains a single movement and watch case.

And still another object is to promote efliciency in time keeping since one watch wound and worn regularly keeps better time than several watches Worn interchangeably and at intervals.

These and other features, objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a watch embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the watch in Figure 1 showing the watch case detached from its mounting;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the watch mounting along the lines 3-3 of Figure l and showing the watch case in side elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a watch embodying a modification of my invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the watch case thereof;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the watch mounting taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 4 and showing the watch case in side elevation;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the watch case shown in Figure 2 employed with a different mounting;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the watch mounting taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 7 and showing the watch case in side elevation;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the watch case shown in Figure 5 employed with a different mounting;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the watch mounting taken along the lines 10-10 of Figure 9 and showing the watch case in side elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially to Figure 2, the watch case which houses the watch mechanism or movement is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Watch case 10 is preferably but not necessarily limited to a substantially rectangular shape and contains a movement therein (not shown). Watch case 10 has end walls 12 and 14 respectively, side walls 16 and 18 respectively, a top wall 20 and a conventional United States Patent 0 Watch crystal 22. Said movement is preferably designed for winding by a stem 24 projecting through the side wall 16 of the watch case.

End wall 12, and each side wall 16 and 18 have their bottom portions cut away to form a three-sided recess 26. Each side wall 16 and 18 is also cut away at one of its sides, and end wall 14 is cut away at both its sides adjacent to side walls 16 and 18 to form recesses 28. It is to be understood that although the recesses 26 and 28 shown in side wall 18 are not shown in the drawing they are identical with the recesses 26 and 28 shown in side wall 16. Locking bar or bail 30 is mounted for pivotal movement on watch case 10 by pivot 32. Projections or free ends 34 of locking bar 30 are adapted to move into and out of recesses 28 depending upon the position of the locking bar. End wall 12 is preferably provided with a pair of movable lugs 36, and a pair of springs 38 serve to project lugs 36 laterally (Figure 3). It is to be understood, however, that a fixed projection may be satisfactorily employed in lieu of movable lugs 36.

The watch mounting or holder shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is referred to generally by the numeral 40. Although watch case 10 is adapted to fit securely within the mounting 40 it may also fit securely and interchangeably in other mountings, as will hereinafter be described. Mounting 40 has side walls 42 and 44 respectively, end walls 46 and 48 respectively, and top wall 50. Top wall 50 has suitable numerals thereon to indicate the time. The top wall is also provided with a rather large opening 52 shaped to correspond to the watch crystal 22. End wall 48 is provided with apertures 54 through which the free ends 34 of the locking bar 30 protrude when the watch case 10 is locked in its mounting 40. As seen in Figure 3, end wall 46 has an indentation forming a projection 56 on its inner surface. Lugs 36 motivated by compression springs 38 are sprung above said projection when the watch case is locked in its watch mounting. Side wall 42 is provided with an inclined slot 58 as seen in Figure 2.

In order to place the watch case in its mounting 40, the watch case is held angularly in relation to the mounting with the locking bar 30 in the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, and movable lugs 36 are inserted above the projection 56. The watch case is then rotated in a clockwise direction until watch crystal 22 projects through opening 52 in the top wall 50 of the mounting, and top wall 20 of the watch case abuts the under surface of top wall 50 of the mounting. Simultaneously the watch stem 24 enters and moves up inclined slot 58. When this is accomplished, as seen in Figure 3, the locking bar is moved from the dotted line position to the full line position into recess 26 with the free ends 34 of the locking bar projecting through apertures 54 of the watch mounting thereby securely locking the watch case 10 in its mounting 40.

For removal of the watch case 10 from mounting 40, ones finger is inserted in the space a (Figure 3) to engage the locking bar 30 and move said locking bar to the dotted line position and cause the free ends 34 thereof to withdraw from apertures 54. The watch case is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction with lugs 36 as a fulcrum and removed from mounting 40.

It is apparent from the above description that the insertion and removal of the watch case 10 from mounting 40 is a simple and rapid manual operation which does not require the use of tools of any kind.

Figures 7 and 8 show the same watch case illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 secured in an entirely different mounting 60. Mounting 60 has a large opening 62 shaped to correspond with watch case 10 which is removably received therein. The mounting 60 is preferably of a different design and may be of a different material. As here shown, the mounting is made of a clear plastic composition which permits the watch face to be observed through the mounting when the watch case is inserted therein. It will be noted from Figure 8 that for decorative effect opening 62 in its surface adjacent to watch crystal 22 has a semi-circular recess 64 surrounded by an annular recess 66. These-recesses may be painted or plated, and as seen in Figure 7 they appear raised when viewed from the outside of the watch mounting.

One end wall of mounting 60 has a recess 68 for the reception of the free ends 34 of the locking bar 30, while the other end wall has a recess 70 for the reception of movable lugs 36. It will be noted that the springs 38 coacting with the movable lugs 36 furnish the necessary resiliency for said lugs to compensate for the slight variances in distances between the end walls of the mounting openings, which often occur in mass production, thus assuring a secure fit of the watch case in a plurality of mountings.

A modification of my present invention is shown in Figures 4, and 6. As clearly seen in Figure 5, watch case 72 has an end wall 74 with a pair of movable lugs 76 projected laterally by compression springs 78, and end wall 80 has a bar 82 horizontally disposed relatively to watch case 72. Watch mounting 84 has end walls 86 and 88 respectively. As seen in Figure 6 both end walls have indentations forming projections 90 and 92, respectively, on the inner surface of said walls. The operation required to insert and remove Watch case 72 from mounting 84 is similar to that explained before in connection with the watch case and mounting shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Obviously, to remove the watch case from its mounting, pressure is applied to the side of the watch crystal adjacent to the movable lugs 76, and the beveled edge of projection 90 along with the compression of spring 78 permit the movable lugs 76 to ride over projection 90, and consequently watch case 72 is easily removed from its mountmg.

In Figures -9 and the watch case 72 is seen housed in an entirely difierent mounting 94. The mounting instead of being in the form of a wrist strap or bracelet, as heretofore shown, is in the form of a pocket or lapel watch. The mounting, as here disclosed, is preferably of clear plastic composition and has a large opening 96 therein. It will be noted from Figure 10 that the surface of the opening 96 adjacent to the watch crystal has recesses 98 and 100 similar to that shown in Figure 8. Similarly, these recesses are painted or plated to heighten the decorative effect of the watch mounting.

In order to remove the watch case 72 from its mounting, ones finger is placed in space b of the opening to engage the watch case and pivot the same in a clock wise direction using the bar 82 as a fulcrum. Consequently said watch case is easily removed from its mounting.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a watch mounting being provided with an opening therethrough and having time indicia thereon, a watch case housing a watch movement and having a crystal, said watch case being adapted to be releasably retained in said opening, at least two retaining means in said opening, at least one fixed lug and one movable lug on said watch case adapted to coact with said retaining means to secure said watch case in said mounting, said watch crystal projecting out of said mounting when said watch case is secured therein.

2. In combination, a watch mounting being provided with an opening, a watch case housing a Watch movement and adapted to be removably received in said opening, retaining means in said opening, a fixed projection on one end of said case, a yielding projection on an opposite end'of said case, both of said projections being adapted to be received and held by said retaining means whereby in one position of said yielding projection the watch case is held against dislodgement from said mounting by said retaining means, and in another position of said yielding projection the latter is disengaged from said retaining means to permit the removal of said watch case from said mounting.

References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,739 Gold Feb. 28, 1911 1,850,216 Ryland Mar. 22, 1932' 2,178,957 English Nov. 7, 1939 2,219,277 Kaufmann Oct. 22, 1940 2,567,564 Ingraham Sept. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,480 Switzerland Sept. 27, 1912 98,592 Switzerland Apr. 2, 1923 174,132 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1935 187,166 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1937 201,996 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1939 237,038 Switzerland July 16, 1945 979,261 France Dec. 6, 1950 684,103 France Mar. 11, 1930 437,005 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1935 

